About 5.35 lakh quintals certified seeds had been distributed to the farmers of Chhattisgarh during the current Kharif season, officials stated. The seeds include paddy, Soyabean , Arhar, Udad and other crops. The Agriculture Department officers said that today said that 4.82 lakh quintal paddy, 36,870 quintal Soyabean , 2520 quintal Arhar , 1658 quintal Udad and Moong and 11,927 quintal seeds of other crops' seeds had been distributed to the farmers of the State.
There is an increase of two per cent seeds' distribution than that of last year. The officials said that mini-kits are being distributed to farmers to popularize the new types of seeds. The State Government is now banking heavily on production and distribution of high quality certified seeds to the farmers for improving quality of crop output in the State, officials stated.
A total of 9 lakh quintals of certified seeds were produced and distributed to the farmers in 2014-15 in Chhattisgarh, officials informed. The aim of the State is to increase the production of certified seeds by 31 per cent during the next five years. In order to achieve the target ‘Akthi Beej Samvardhan Yojana’ was launched earlier in 2009-10, to encourage farmers to produce certified seeds, they stated.
The Agriculture Department officials said that subsidy of Rs 500 per quintal is given to farmers who produce certified seeds. They said that an increase of 15 to 20 per cent output of crops if certified seeds are used instead of ordinary seeds. The scheme was launched to encourage the farmers to produce certified seeds. ‘Akthi Beej Samvardhan Yojana’ was launched in 2009-10.
In the current year, subsidy will be given for paddy, ragi and wheat certified seeds. In 2009-10, the initial year, 1.56 lakh quintal of certified seeds of paddy was produced. About 93,992 quintal seeds were distributed to the farmers. In 2013-14, about 6.8 lakh quintal certified seeds of paddy were produced and 2.19 lakh quintal certified seeds were distributed to the farmers.
There was an increase in 288 per cent in production of certified seeds and 134 per cent increase in certified seeds distribution to the farmers during the past five years. The target is to produce 10.8 lakh quintal certified seeds in 2015-16, 11.15 lakh quintal in 2016-17, 11.95 lakh quintal in 2017-18, 13 lakh quintal certified seeds in 2018-19.